Easter. Ancient Traditions

Easter is also a time when certain old traditions are observed, whether it is celebrated as the start of spring or a religious festival. In England it is a time for the giving and receiving of presents which traditionally take the form of an Easter egg, for the Easter Bonnet Parade and hot cross buns (Sweet buns with a cross cut on top before baking; served hot). Nowadays Easter eggs are usually made of chocolate (Children get chocolate Easter rabbits and chocolate Easter eggs, they are either hollow or have a filling, and are usually covered with onghtly coloured silver paper; they can be bought at any sweet shop in the weeks before Easter. Adults do not usually give each other presents at Easter, as they do at Christmas), but the old custom of dyeing or painting egg-shells is still maintained in some country „districts. The Easter egg is by far the most popular emblem of Easter, but fluffy little chicks, baby rabbits and spring-time flowers like daffodils, dangling catkins and the arum lily are also used to signify the Nature’s reawakening.

London’s Easter Parade

London greets the spring, and its early visitors, with a truly spectacular Easter Parade in Battersea Park on Easter Sunday each year. It is sponsored by the London Tourist Board and is usually planned around a central theme related .to the history and attractions of London. The great procession, or parade, begins at 3 p. m., but it is advisable to find a vantage-point well before that hour. The parade consists of a great many interesting and decorated floats, entered by various organizations in and outside the metropolis. Some of the finest bands in the country take part in the parade. At the rear of the parade is usually the very beautiful Jersey float, created from thousands of lovely spring blooms and bearing the Easter Princess and her attendants. It is an afternoon to remember.